Team Notes: Dublin Lightning were founded by Cillian Smith
and Derek Ward. The idea for the team came from discussions both Cillian and Derek had at
flag football meetings in 1994/95. They then set about putting together a squad to play in
the 1995 season. The team was named by Liam Farrell, a Chargers fan, who currently plays
flag football for the Drimnagh Cycos. Dublin "Lightning" was originally meant to
be a temporary name for the team, but it grew on everyone, so it stuck. The team mascot is
called "Jerome". The first squad in 1995 was a mixture of mainly ex-Dublin Celts
players and ex-flag footballers. The team showed they meant business early on by signing
Irish National Team Captain and quarterback Eddie Goggins from the Bath Gladiators for
their debut season. The team finished 2nd in the IAFL in their first season, but were
knocked out in the semi-finals of the play-offs. In 1996, they strengthened their squad by
signing two ex-college players from the U.S.: Tom Walls of Brockport St. who was also a
GTE All-American nominee, and Dave Neidell of Notre Dame. They also introduced some
younger players who were to make an impact in the latter stages of the season. The
Lightning won the Shamrock Bowl after defeating the Dublin Tornadoes 26-8. No other Irish
team has ever won the Shamrock Bowl in such a short time. Two rookies, Ray McCulloch and
Alan Burke were among the scorers in the final. In 1997, the team again qualified for the
play-offs, but lost out in the semi-finals mainly due to the absence of some key players
through injury. Failed to make the Shamrock Bowl in 1998 and 1999.

Dublin Lightning did not survive the years of inactivity from 1998
to 2001, but many former Dublin Lightning people are involved in
the new IAFL.